Bedford North Lawrence fall sports athletes reap healthy harvest

BEDFORD — Winter sports are starting to crank up, slowing building to fully-engaged status, full at Bedford North Lawrence High School, but just before they hit high gear it's time to take a look back at some special accomplishments by the fall sports athletes.

Many of them garnered some heavy postseason hardware for their efforts on and off the playing fields and courts.

Several Stars played their way into the All-Hoosier Hills Conference squads, either First Team or Honorable Mention, and a few others displayed the discipline it takes to make an Academic All-State team.

Heady girls in volleyball

The inexperienced Bedford North Lawrence volleyball squad struggled on the court this season, but those difficulties did not extend to the classroom as five senior Stars played and studied their way onto the Indiana High School Volleyball Coaches Association Academic All-State first team.

Carlee Kern, Merritt Callahan, Emma Foreman, Maddy Bennett and Reva Tincher were the ones bestowed with that hallowed honored that recognizes both academic and athletic performance.

Kern also received another honor when she was named to the 2021 All-HHC Honorable Mention team, which is essentially the league's second team.

Football lands 5 on All-HHC team

The Bedford North Lawrence football squad landed five players on the 2021 All-HHC team, with the number of selections set by the Stars' finish in the team standings and created some glaring omissions in the mind of head coach Derrick Barker (for example, senior standout lineman Isaac Jackson missed by one vote, and sophomore wide receiver/kicker star Ryker Hughes was shunned).

The BNL representatives were very deserving. Senior safety Jesse Brock, with his league-leading five interceptions, senior defensive end Ryan Perry (110 tackles) and senior linebacker Brye Lewis (50 tackles) were named to the All-HHC First Team (the second consecutive year for Lewis, who made it as a quarterback/athlete in 2020).

Junior wingback Dylan Nikirk and senior offensive lineman Nic Mansker were selected for the Honorable Mention contingent.

Boys tennis nets two All-HHC players

The BNL boys tennis squad battled hard all season in Chris Kurtz' first year back as a head coach after a long hiatus, and the Stars were rewarded with two players landing spots on the All-Hoosier Hills Conference Honorable Mention unit.

Senior Steven Graham at No.1 singles, and junior Graham Turner at No.2 singles earned the nods for 2021.

Boys soccer gains nice haul

The BNL boys soccer team had a solid season on the turf with a 7-7-2 record, and a nice postseason showing in the award room with three selections on the All-Hoosier Hills Conference club.

Senior striker Josh Anderson and senior midfielder Danny Cline were chosen for the All-HHC First Team, while junior striker Joseph Brazzell was named Honorable Mention.

Webb gathers honor in girls soccer

It was also a rough ride on the field for the BNL girls soccer club, but the young Stars did glean one on the awards scroll as senior goal keeper Crystal Webb was named Honorable Mention All-HHC for 2021.

Tanksley runs way to All-HHC honors

The BNL girls cross country team was represented on the 2021 All-HHC First Team by the indominable senior Grace Tanksley, who ran her way onto the squad at the conference meet with a seventh-place finish. Tanksley went on to qualifier for regional and semistate for the third consecutive season.

The BNL boys did not get anyone on the all-conference team, but that could change next year after freshman Jonah Bailey surged late in the season and wound up qualifying for regional and semistate.

Contact Times-Mail Sports Writer Jeff Bartlett at jeffb@tmnews.com, or on Twitter @jeffbtmnews.

This article originally appeared on The Times-Mail: Bedford North Lawrence players glean awards in IHSAA fall season